I amsterdam - Amsterdam is popular business location for Indian ICT companies

The Amsterdam council sees good opportunities in attracting investment from emerging markets like China and India. An Amsterdam office was opened in 2006 in Shanghai to attract more Chinese companies and goods to the Amsterdam region. At the end of October this year, an Amsterdam delegation led by mayor Job Cohen visited China for the second year running.

Amsterdam will be visiting India between 24 and 30 November 2007 during a 5-city mission led by Minister for Foreign Trade Frank Heemskerk.

Average GDP growth in India is presently more than 9%. Forecasts suggest that this trend will continue into the next few years at least. In 2006 and 2007, Indian investments in Europe were the highest in the Netherlands, including large merger & acquisitions such as Mittal/ Arcelor in Rotterdam and Corus in IJmuiden. The European Union is India’s most important trading partner. India’s ICT sector is especially interesting from the Amsterdam point of view. It is expected that Amsterdam will also attract Indian Life Science companies in the future.
 
Many large Dutch multinationals in the financial sector outsource some of their activities to India. This has meant that Indian so-called “Tier 1” ICT companies are now setting up in the region. A good example of this is Tata Consultancy Services, a company that opened its European headquarters in Amsterdam’s Zuidas in 2006 and now employs some 350 people. Wipro Technologies, Cognizant and Infosys, who are among the top 5 ICT companies in India, all now have offices in the Amsterdam region.
 
Alderman Asscher visited the headquarters of Infosys and Wipro Technologies in Bangalore, which opened offices in the Amsterdam region in 2006 and 2007 respectively. Among others, Alderman Asscher met with Mr Laxman Bediga, CIO of Wipro Technologies, and paid a visit to InfoSys with Minister for Foreign Trade Frank Heemskerk and members of the delegation.

Seminars presenting the Amsterdam region as a good place for Indian companies to open an office were also held in Bangalore and Mumbai. These seminars were heavily attended.
 
Indian community in the Amsterdam region
Last year the Indian community was the fastest growing in the Amsterdam region. Working with the councils of Amstelveen, Almere and Haarlemmersmeer, the council of Amsterdam this year organised a cricket tournament to strengthen its link with this community. The event was a great success, and will be repeated in 2008. In November 2008, a large Indian cultural festival will be held on the initiative of the Concertgebouw Amsterdam. A number of networking events for the Indian business community will also be organised.